Missing Individual May Have Been Located in River

May 18, 2023

Dear colleagues,

I want to share a heartbreaking but important update about our friend and former student Shirani (Galindo) Simpson, who went missing in the Saint Joseph River on Sunday, May 7.

Earlier this week, on Monday, May 15, a body was recovered from the Saint Joseph River, northwest of the Andrews University campus. Local media have reported on the discovery of the body earlier this week, and have described the formal testing/confirmation now taking place in Kalamazoo. You can read more about that process here.

Here at Andrews University, our intense prayers continue to surround Shirani’s two children, her family and friends, and our Andrews University community following this sad update to the search and recovery process.

A “Celebration of Life for Shirani Simpson” will be held on Sunday, May 21, at Iglesia Adventista del Séptimo Día de Berrien Springs, the local Spanish Seventh-day Adventist Church. You can read more about that service here.

Once again, we are grateful to the first responders and local agencies who have tirelessly searched for Shirani after she first went missing. Thanks as well to the various members of the University family who provided direct support for both Shirani’s family and the first responders throughout this crucial effort.

I invite your ongoing support and prayers for Shirani’s family and friends.

Christon Arthur
Provost